Pacesetting Ogilvy forges six ahead at Kapalua

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

KAPALUA, Hawaii (Reuters) - Australian Geoff Ogilvy tightened his grip on the PGA Tour''s season-opening Mercedes-Benz Championship by surging six strokes clear of the field after Saturday''s third round.

One ahead at the start of another glorious sun-drenched day at the Kapalua Resort, Ogilvy fired a flawless eight-under-par 65 in his bid for a fifth Tour title.

With gentle breezes exposing the hilly, par-73 Plantation Course to a glut of low scoring, the 2006 U.S. Open champion piled up eight birdies to post a 19-under total of 200.

"I''ve never had a lead like this going into a Sunday so this is a new experience for me," said Ogilvy, who has triumphed twice in three attempts on the PGA Tour when holding at least a share of the 54-hole lead.

"I''m here to win a golf tournament and I''m in a pretty good position that if I play well tomorrow, I should have a real chance to. I''m striking it well and I feel good."

Justin Leonard birdied four of the last seven holes for a 65 to share second place with fellow American D.J. Trahan (70).

"Hat''s off to him," Leonard said of Ogilvy''s runaway performance in the 33-strong field.

"He''s obviously playing great. He doesn''t really have any real weaknesses. He''s just unflappable, really solid.

A month after winning his first professional title on home soil at the Australian PGA championship, Ogilvy picked up his first shot of the day at the par-four first after hitting his approach to eight feet.

Further birdies followed at the fourth and the par-five fifth, where the slim Australian reached the green in two and two-putted, to put him four strokes clear of the chasing pack.

Although American Davis Love III rolled in a 13-foot eagle putt at the ninth to close briefly to within three of the lead, Ogilvy birdied the same hole after pitching to a foot to regain his four-stroke cushion.

CLOSEST CHALLENGERS

With his all-round game in sparkling order, Ogilvy picked up further shots at the 10th, 13th, 14th and 15th to leave his closest challengers trailing in his wake.

Colombian Camilo Villegas rebounded from a double-bogey at the first with nine birdies in 11 holes from the fifth, a 66 earning him a tie for fourth at 12 under with Americans Love (68), Kenny Perry (68) and Anthony Kim (68).

Former U.S. Masters champion Zach Johnson, among the day''s early starters, fired a blistering 64, the lowest score of the week.  Continued...